Strawberry plant named ‘DrisStrawNinetyOne’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of strawberry plant named ‘DrisStrawNinetyOne’, particularly selected for the shelf life, firmness, and large size of the fruit, as well as its good performance in organic settings, is disclosed.

Latin name:

Botanical classification: Fragaria x ananassa.

Varietal denomination: The varietal denomination of the claimed variety of strawberry plant is ‘DrisStrawNinetyOne’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cultivated strawberry is a hybrid species of the genus Fragaria that is grown worldwide for its fruit. Modern strawberry was first bred in Brittany, France, in the 18^(th) century by crossing Fragaria virginiana with Fragaria chiloensis. Strawberry fruit is an aggregate accessory fruit, with the fleshy part of the fruit being derived from the receptacle that holds the ovaries.

Strawberry varieties vary widely in color, size, shape, flavor, season of ripening, degree of fertility, and susceptibility to disease. Certain varieties vary in foliage, and some vary in the relative development of their reproductive organs. Typically, strawberry flowers appear hermaphroditic in structure, but function as either male or female. Generally, commercial production of strawberry plants involves propagation from runners and distribution as either plugs or bare root plants. Cultivation is either perennial or annual plasticulture. During the off season, strawberries can also be produced in greenhouses.

Strawberry fruit is widely appreciated for its characteristic bright red color, aroma, juicy texture, and sweetness. Strawberry fruit is a popular fruit that is generally consumed either fresh or in prepared foods, such as preserves and baked goods.

Strawberry is an important and valuable fruit crop. Accordingly, there is a need for new varieties of strawberry plants. In particular, there is a need for improved varieties of strawberry plant that are stable, high yielding, and agronomically sound.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to meet these needs, the present invention is directed to an improved variety of strawberry plant. In particular, the invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry plant (Fragaria x ananassa), which has been denominated as ‘DrisStrawNinetyOne’.

Strawberry plant variety ‘DrisStrawNinetyOne’ originated from a cross between the proprietary female parent strawberry plant ‘131U152’ (unpatented) and the proprietary male parent strawberry plant ‘140U203’ (unpatented). Progeny plants from this cross, including ‘DrisStrawNinetyOne’, were asexually propagated via stolons in Shasta County, Calif. in the summer of 2014. Strawberry plant variety ‘DrisStrawNinetyOne’ was later specifically identified and selected in Monterey County, Calif. in May of 2015.

‘DrisStrawNinetyOne’ was subsequently asexually propagated via stolons, and has undergone testing in test plots in Monterey County, Calif. and Santa Barbara County, Calif. for four years (2016 to 2020). The present variety has been found to be stable and reproduce true to type through successive asexual propagations via stolons and tissue culture.

‘DrisStrawNinetyOne’ was particularly selected for the shelf life, firmness, and large size of the fruit, as well as its good performance in organic settings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This new strawberry plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. Unless indicated otherwise, the photographs are of plants that are 11-20 months old.

FIG. 1 illustrates whole fruit of variety ‘DrisStrawNinetyOne’.

FIG. 2 illustrates longitudinal sections of fruit of variety ‘DrisStrawNinetyOne’.

FIG. 3 illustrates flowers of variety ‘DrisStrawNinetyOne’.

FIG. 4 illustrates leaves of variety ‘DrisStrawNinetyOne’.

FIG. 5 illustrates whole plants of variety ‘DrisStrawNinetyOne’.

FIG. 6 illustrates another view of whole plants of variety ‘DrisStrawNinetyOne’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘DrisStrawNinetyOne’. Unless indicated otherwise, the data which define these characteristics are based on observations taken from plants that were 11-20 months old grown in Monterey Count, Calif. and Santa Barbara County, Calif. from 2016 to 2020. This description is in accordance with UPOV terminology. Color designations, color descriptions, and other phenotypical descriptions may deviate from the stated values and descriptions depending upon variation in environmental, seasonal, climatic, and cultural conditions. ‘DrisStrawNinetyOne’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The indicated values represent averages calculated from measurements of several plants. Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2015 edition). Descriptive terminology follows the Plant Identification Terminology, An Illustrated Glossary, 2^(nd) edition by James G. Harris and Melinda Woolf Harris, unless where otherwise defined.

-   Classification:     -   -   Species.—Fragaria x ananassa.         -   Common name.—Strawberry.         -   Denomination.—‘DrisStrawNinetyOne’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary strawberry plant ‘131U152’             (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—Proprietary strawberry plant ‘140U203’             (unpatented). -   Plant:     -   -   Height.—25.7 cm.         -   Diameter.—43.1 cm.         -   Number of crowns per plant.—5.2.         -   Growth habit.—Semi-upright.         -   Density of foliage.—Dense.         -   Vigor.—Strong. -   Stolon:     -   -   Diameter at bract.—3.1 mm.         -   Anthocyanin coloration.—Weak.         -   Stolon color with anthocyanin present.—RHS 145A (Strong             yellow-green).         -   Density of pubescence.—Sparse.         -   Number of stolons per plant.—2. -   Leaf:     -   -   Number of leaflets.—Three only.         -   Color of upper leaf surface.—RHS 139A (Dark yellowish             green).         -   Color of lower leaf surface.—RHS 139C (Moderate yellow             green).         -   Blistering.—Medium.         -   Glossiness.—Medium.         -   Variegation.—Absent.         -   Terminal leaflet.—Length: 7.4 cm. Width: 7.0 cm.             Length/width ratio: 1.1. Number of teeth per terminal             leaflet: 19.4. Shape of terminal leaflet base: Rounded.             Margin: Serrate to crenate. Shape in cross section: Concave.         -   Petiole.—Color: RHS 144C (Strong yellow green). Length:             20.5 cm. Diameter: 3.9 mm. Attitude of hairs: Slightly             outwards. Bract frequency (number present on each petiole):             0.         -   Petiolule.—Length: 11.1 mm. Diameter: 2.3 mm.         -   Stipule.—Length: 22 mm. Width: 11.9 mm. Anthocyanin             coloration: Medium. Stipule color with anthocyanin present:             RHS 163A (Deep orange yellow). -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Position of inflorescence in relation to foliage.—Above.         -   Pedicel.—Attitude of hairs: Horizontal.         -   Flower.—Flower diameter (petal tip to petal tip on             non-flattened flower): 15.5 mm. Arrangement of petals: Free.             Size of calyx in relation to corolla: Larger. Stamen:             Present. Number of flowers per flowering truss: 14.3.         -   Petal.—Length: 6.4 mm. Width: 8.2 mm. Length/width ratio:             0.8. Number of petals per flower: 5.3. Color of petal upper             side: RHS 155A (Yellowish White). Color of petal lower side:             RHS 155C (Greenish White).         -   Pollen.—Color: RHS 12A (Vivid yellow). Shape: Rounded             tetrahedron.         -   Stigma.—Color: RHS 2B (Brilliant greenish yellow).         -   Stamen.—Number per flower: 24.         -   Calyx.—Color: RHS 139A (Dark yellowish green). Diameter             (sepal tip to sepal tip, measured on back of flower): 24.6             mm.         -   Sepal.—Color: RHS 139A (Dark yellowish green). Length:             8.9 mm. Width: 4.8 mm. Number of sepals per flower: 10.4.         -   Flowering.—Flowering interval: February to November (in             Watsonville, Calif.). -   Fruit:     -   -   Fruit size.—Length: 37.9 mm. Width: 33.9 mm. Length/width             ratio: 1.1.         -   Fruit hollow.—Length: 8.5 mm. Width: 2.9 mm. Length/width             ratio: 2.9.         -   Shape.—Conical.         -   Difference in shape of terminal and other fruits.—None or             very slight.         -   Fruit color.—RHS 46A (Strong red).         -   Evenness of color.—Even or very slightly uneven.         -   Glossiness.—Medium.         -   Evenness of surface.—Even or very slightly uneven.         -   Width of band without achenes.—Narrow.         -   Position of achenes.—Level with surface.         -   Achene color.—RHS 42B (Strong reddish orange).         -   Number of achenes per fruit.—363.         -   Position of calyx attachment.—Level with fruit.         -   Attitude of sepals.—Outwards.         -   Diameter of calyx in relation to diameter of fruit.—Slightly             larger.         -   Adherence of calyx.—Strong.         -   Color of flesh (excluding core).—RHS 43A (Vivid reddish             orange).         -   Color of core.—RHS 43B (Vivid reddish orange).         -   Soluble solids (in ° Brix).—7.3.         -   Fruiting.—Harvest interval: March to November (in             Watsonville, Calif.). Type of bearing: Partially remontant.             Productivity: 1.9 kg to 2.7 kg of fruit per plant per season             from 11- to 20-month-old plants when grown in Watsonville,             Calif. -   Resistance to abiotic stress, pests, and diseases:     -   -   Powdery mildew (Podosphaera macularis).—Moderately             susceptible.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND REFERENCE VARIETIES

‘DrisStrawNinetyOne’ differs from the female parent proprietary strawberry plant ‘131U152’ (unpatented) in that ‘DrisStrawNinetyOne’ produces fruit that are firmer, have longer shelf life, better flavor, and lower in yield when compared to ‘131U152’.

‘DrisStrawNinetyOne’ differs from the male parent proprietary strawberry plant ‘140U203’ (unpatented) in that ‘DrisStrawNinetyOne’ produces fruit that are larger in size, higher in yield, and less sweet in taste when compared to ‘140U203’.

‘DrisStrawNinetyOne’ differs from the reference variety ‘DrisStrawFortyFour’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,801) in that ‘DrisStrawNinetyOne’ has medium leaf blistering, medium fruit glossiness, an outwards attitude of sepals on fruit, and a strong adherence of calyx on fruit, whereas ‘DrisStrawFortyFour’ has weak leaf blistering, strong fruit glossiness, an upwards attitude of sepals on fruit, and a very strong adherence of calyx on fruit.

‘DrisStrawNinetyOne’ differs from the reference variety ‘DrisStrawFiftyThree’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,749), in that ‘DrisStrawNinetyOne’ has a narrow width of band without achenes, a strong adherence of calyx on fruit, firm fruit, and absent or very small sized cavity in fruit, whereas ‘DrisStrawFiftyThree’ has a broad width of band without achenes on fruit, a very strong adherence of calyx on fruit, a medium firmness of fruit, and a medium sized cavity in fruit. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of strawberry plant named ‘DrisStrawNinetyOne’ as shown and described herein. 